Camera + Telescope = FUN!!!

[RBennett]

So as most everyone knows (at least I THINK that everyone knows this) Mars will be coming closer to Earth than any of us will ever see again in August. My question is this; does anyone know how to mount a camera onto a telescope in order to take pictures of it???

 

[Experiment_626]

So as most everyone knows (at least I THINK that everyone knows this) Mars will be coming closer to Earth than any of us will ever see again in August.

Sadly, your information is six years out-of-date -- this actually happened in August of 2003.

For more, see here: http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp

SSB

 

[RBennett]

Yeah... I just saw that too about the time that I refreshed and saw your post. Where is the big "SUCKER" smiley when you need it???

 

[ukcatfan]

May as well answer the question anyway. You need to buy a special mount. Don't worry about missing it. It being closer would not have made much of a difference in your pictures anyway. If my memory serves me, it was on the order of a fraction of a percent closer.

 

[Experiment_626]

May as well answer the question anyway. You need to buy a special mount.

Yes; I've seen them in stores that sell decent telescopes. Camera stores might also carry them; I'm not sure -- you might also try B&H.

I happen to know some astrophysicists (I work in a university physics department), so if you can't find the mounts any other way and you're still interested, I could try to find one of them that isn't using 30-year-old equipment and ask where you might find what you need. Just let me know.

SSB

 

[Groucho]

As I understand it, they usually use T-mounts, you can find adapters for darn near any camera ever. Usually pretty cheap, too. I think the downside is that the optics in most telescopes tend to be awfully soft when put up to a demanding task like feeding a DSLR sensor, plus they are "slow" - but then, you probably won't be handholding it so that may not be that big of a deal.

I've been wanting to do it but haven't gotten around to it... I don't have any telescope in my possession, much less one with a T-mount. Maybe I'll have to take a look at Craigslist one of these days...

I do have an old Vivitar lens with a T-mount connected to an M42 mount, I could probably use that adapter if/when I pick up a telescope. I don't expect great results, though - if they really worked decently, people would use those for their moon photos instead of regular ol' lenses.

A mirror lens might be another reasonably-priced option.